Brazil's industry to legally contest gov't-set freight rates

Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-09 05:43:49|Editor: yan

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BRASILIA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's National Industry Confederation (CNI) on Friday said it has decided to legally contest minimum freight rates recently set by the government as a concession to striking truckers.

In a statement, the CNI said it will file a complaint at the Federal Supreme Court (STF), arguing the shipping rates are too high and therefore unconstitutional.

"The freight table is unsustainable because it is extremely damaging to the economy, especially for the productive sector, and for the population," the president of the CNI, Robson Braga de Andrade, said.

According to the CNI, the minimum freight rates raise shipping costs from 25 percent to 65 percent.

In addition, the concept of setting a minimum price infringes on the principle of free enterprise, is inefficient, and represents "undue state intervention in the economy," said the industry group.

President Michel Temer's government last month negotiated the end of a prolonged nationwide truckers' strike, in part by agreeing to establish minimum shipping rates.